GLENDALE, Ariz. — Blue Jackets right wing Nathan Horton likely will make his long-awaited season debut tonight against the Phoenix Coyotes.

“It’s not 100 percent, but there is a very good chance he will play,” coach Todd Richards said after Horton participated in an optional practice yesterday at Jobing.com Arena. “It may not happen, but there is a really good chance.”

Horton, the Jackets’ major offseason signing, has missed the first 40 games of the season because of reconstructive left shoulder surgery in July. He has been testing the shoulder in recent days, participating in full practice and absorbing and dishing out hits in controlled drills to gauge his readiness.

“I don’t think there is any pain at all,” Richards said. “There shouldn’t be pain. Maybe a little soreness, but that’s common.”

Horton’s debut has been long anticipated by everyone associated with the organization since he signed a seven-year, $37.1 million contract.

Richards said he had not yet settled on where to put Horton in the lineup. The Boston Bruins effectively used him on a “jumbo” line with left wing Milan Lucic and center David Krejci, and Horton would figure to fit in well alongside center Ryan Johansen.

“We’ll figure that out (today),” Richards said. “If this comes to fruition, we want him to be comfortable on the ice. But he’s going to provide some energy.

“The other thing is that it can’t become a thing where it sidetracks everyone else, where we’re watching him and waiting for him to do (things).”

Horton, who’s 6 feet 2 and 229 pounds, said the final stages of his rehabilitation have been the toughest because he has been so close to playing.

“I want to play as soon as I can,” Horton said this week. “It’d be great to do it at home, but as soon as I’m ready, I’ll be out there. It’ll be tough the first few games, but I want to get out there and contribute.”

Horton isn’t the only Blue Jackets player on the verge of returning to the ice.

Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has missed nearly a month because of a strained groin but could be in uniform tonight, most likely as a backup to Curtis McElhinney, Richards said. Defenseman Dalton Prout (shoulder sprain) also is likely to play after missing six games.

“We knew they were getting close,” Richards said. “All three have suggested that they’re feeling really good, so we’ll see.”

On the flip side, right wing Jack Skille suffered an abdominal injury on Tuesday in a 5-3 loss to the Colorado Avalanche and has returned to Columbus.

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